Blastomeryx

Blastomeryx; Temporal range: Early Miocene–Middle Miocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
	Reconstruction
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Family:	Moschidae
Subfamily:	†Blastomerycinae
Genus:	†Blastomeryx; Cope, 1877
Species
	B. cursor Cook 1934; B. gemmifer Cope 1874; B. vigoratus Hay 1924;
Synonyms
	B. elegans; B. francesca; B. medius; B. mollis; B. pristinus; B. tantillus;

Blastomeryx is an extinct genus of musk deer endemic to North America. It lived during the Miocene epoch 20.4—10.3 mya, existing for approximately 10 million years.[1] There may be only one species, Blastomeryx gemmifer.[2]

Blastomeryx was 75 centimetres (30 in) long and looked like a modern chevrotain. Its canines were elongated into tusks which it probably used to uproot plants and fend off predators. While Blastomeryx (as well as modern musk deer) lacked antlers, a Middle Miocene species had bony knobs on its skull, which have been interpreted as incipient horns.[3]

References

Blastomeryx at fossilworks
Prothero, 2007 (p. 221-226)
Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 273. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.

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[1] Blastomeryx at fossilworks

[2] Prothero, 2007 (p. 221-226)

[EoDP-3] Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 273. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.